The recent termination of Meta’s contract with Telus International in Barcelona—which resulted in over 2,000 content moderators losing their positions—prompted ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) to invite me to address the broader implications of this workforce disruption. The event was part of the kick-off for the DigitalWORK research project, which explores how digital technologies are transforming work and promoting fair, equitable and transparent labor conditions, with Anna Ginès i Fabrellas and Raquel Serrano Olivares (Universitat de Barcelona) as principal investigators.
The Barcelona layoffs represent more than just another corporate restructuring. They exemplify the precarious nature of digital labor that underpins the global AI and social media ecosystem. In my presentation, I analyzed global labor arbitrage in AI production, discussing how companies like Meta leverage geographic wage differentials to reduce operational costs, with Barcelona serving as a mid-tier location between Silicon Valley headquarters and Global South outsourcing destinations. In the subsequent debate with ILO senior economist Uma Rani, I also addressed potential regulatory responses and worker rights, exploring policy interventions to protect digital workers from arbitrary contract terminations and ensure fair compensation for data workers.